I was born in Miami, from an Italian/Colombian mother and a Egyptian/Syrian father. At the age of 8 we moved to The Bahamas and I went to boarding school in Switzerland. Our family was always about food, and every night we had a different type of food, one night Italian, one night Colombian, another Syrian, and of course, Bahamian. All of this made me very restless to learn all I could about food, and 10 years ago I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a chef after I moved to Barcelona. In 2004 I opened up my first restaurant, and today I proudly teach people to cook delicious food from my home and at a school in Barcelona. I love cooking, and I love to try different recipes. One of the things I love most about Barcelona are the markets. I can spend hours just staring at food! And then hours cooking it!
I hope you enjoy my recipes, and try them at home.
From my kitchen to yours,
Carla
Expat Chef in Barcelona 
Brilliant! I loved reading about your food history, philosophy and the journey it’s taken you on! Barcelona is a top food & culture destination (for one day!) I’ll look forward to learning more via your kitchen tales 🙂
Thank you so much….I seem to spend my whole life in the kitchen, either at home or at work…..but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
We love your story and of course your food tales!! Thanks for the following! 🙂 Y Qué aproveche!
Thank you so much! I am happy that you have enjoyed my posts, and look forward to yours as well! Bien aprovechados estamos!
Love, love, love your blog. Your food is right up my street. And I love your photography.
Yours,
A fan
Thank you so much!
I may have to come visit your restaurant someday when I finally get to Barcelona. As a Sicilian/Lebanese/Haitian expat, we seem to have similar backgrounds.
Wow!!! My father was born in Haiti…..and he is of Syrian Egyptian descent….hmmm….maybe we’re related! 🙂 Thanks, but I closed my restaurant a few years back, now I teach and do private caterings and team building events! Thanks so much for following!
My grandfather was born in Haiti, his parents came over from what was then the Syrian Republic, but is now Lebanon. The family name is Boulos, and they’re fairly well-known on the island.
My family name is Bigio….and my father came over there with his family that had already come from Syria/Egypt……I think we are probably related in some way, and the Bigio’s are quite well known on the island I am told. I have only visited once, when I was very, very young….Wow…fancy meeting you here. My grandmother was from Aleppo…..
I’m from Colombia too! Que blog tan bonito 🙂
Muchas gracias!!! De que parte? Mi familia es de Barranquilla, pero tengo primos en Santa Marta y en Bogota!
De Villavicencio! Haces comida Colombiana alla? Me gustaria encontrar unas recetas buenas!
Si, siempre hago algo Colombiano, pero no muy amenudo….que los ingredientes aqui no siempre son muy buenos. Ahora en dos semanas ire a visitar a mi madre en Miami, y seguro cocinaremos juntas unas cosas. Pero tienes algo en concreto que te gustaria aprender? Siempre te puedo ayudar en lo que necesites! Tu blog es super chevere tambien! Saludos!
Gracias! Lo mismo para ti. La comida de la costa es deli y no se como hacerla! De apronto una receta de Aborrajados? Ok, saludes !
I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award! Congratulations!!
http://acorninmykitchen.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/three-awards-blog-on-fire-award-and-versatile-blogger-award-x2/
Wow! Oh my gosh, thank you, I am very flattered! Muchisimas gracais!
Well deserved! Enjoy the Spanish sun!
Just wanted to say thanks. I appreciate all of my followers. I hope you enjoy reading thisfloridalife. Have a great day!
Hi Carla! What an interesting background you have and what a lovely blog!! I found out about it via Girl in a food frenzy’s blog!! Happy I did. Ciao, Letizia
Thank you! And that you so much for following!
😀 you’re more than welcome!!
Hi, I want to nominate you for the Super Sweet Blogger award! Check out my post http://dutchgoesitalian.com/2012/09/30/awards-day-wonderful-day/ about it. Have a nice Sunday!! Letizia
Great blog and so nice to see some pictures of my spiritual home.
Thank you! I unfortunately will be moving away from Barcelona in about 2 months…..waaaaaaaaaaaaaa! but, luckily I have family here so I will be back to visit. It really is a great place!
I lived in Barcelona for two and half years and have lots of friends, so I visit a lot. It’s always nice to return 😉
It all looks very delicious!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy!
What an amazing story – you followed your dream and moved to Barcelona – and for doing that you are my hero. I only wish I could follow my dream, also to move to Barcelona, and pursue art… I will be keeping an eye on your blog. Maybe it will help persuade me to make the final leap of faith some day!
My dream unfortunately is moving to different areas! I am moving to Madrid in January, but Barcelona will still hold my heart! And you would love it, Barcelona has such a thriving art scene. Take the leap, you won’t regret it! 🙂
¡Hola Carla! Muchas gracias por el “follow” 😉 Tu blog me ha encantado y tu “bio” es super interesante, ¡cuánta diversidad!
Tienes que pasarte por madrid algún día y hacemos un tour de mercados, a ver si son tan monos como los catalanes 😉
Encantada de conocerte
Hola! Pues mira que suerte, en enero me mudo a Madrid! Craig the MadDogTvDinners me aconsejo que te contactara! El mundo es super pequenyo, el estuvo en Barcelona y nos tomamos un cafe juntos. Bueno, cuando este por alla, te pego un toque y me puedes dar un tour de la ciudad y los mercados, que estoy ansiosa de conocerlos! Encatada igual y espero que esteis todos bien! 🙂
¡Qué bien! Me avisas cuando estés instalada 🙂
Hi, you have been nominated for the Leibster Award, thanks for all your great posts… all you need to know is here 🙂
http://cupcaketravels.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/leibster-award-nomination/
Thank you so much! Wow! Speechless!
Congratulations! I’ve nominated your blog for the Blog of the Year Award 2012. If you are interested in participating you can access your badge icon and rules at http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2012/12/22/blog-of-the-year-2012-award-2nd-star/. I hope you will participate! Teresa
Congratulations! I have nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award!
http://daisyandthefox.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/
You most certainly deserve it! 🙂
Have a happy new year!
Daisy and the Fox
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – congratulations! 🙂
http://daisyandthefox.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/celebrating-the-new-year-with-blog-awards/
Happy New Year!
Daisy and the Fox
Hi, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award. There’s no obligation to accept or re-post it, this is just my way of saying ‘I enjoy reading your posts’.
Here’s the award post link: http://perisspiceladle.com/2013/01/16/blog-of-the-year-2012-and-more-a-heartfelt-thank-you/
Have a great year!
Peri.
You have such a lovely blog! 🙂 And I’m jealous you live in Barcelona… I spent a semester there as a college student, and loved it, but didn’t have access to my own kitchen while living there, so I couldn’t take full advantage of the wonderful markets. That didn’t stop me from wandering around the Boqueria market every chance I got… but still. Nice to have some corners of the internet like this one to help me enjoy Barcelona (vicariously) again! 🙂
I saw your link on the TASIS page, nice to meet you!
Hi there, just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award and the Very Inspiring blog award. If you are interested go to this link. http://simplysophisticatedcooking.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/one-lovely-blog-award-and-the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
I’ve recently switched my food blog over to be self-hosted which I hope will make it more user-friendly in the future. As a result, if you were following Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen via email, WordPress, or using RSS feeds through Google Reader or some other way, you are no longer subscribed. If you wish to continue receiving future posts from my blog you will need to re-subscribe. Sorry for the inconvenience, Teresa.
Hi Carla! just picked through your blog and I had to sign up 🙂 Your personal background is very interesting and your recipes look very delicious! I’ll assume you speak Spanish 🙂 Ive been to Barcelona a few times. My sister used to live there. What an awesome place to be a chef and to teach cooking. Anyways, hope you are doing great and I will be keeping an eye for your new posts!
Hi, thank you very much! Yes, I do speak Spanish since my family is originally from Colombia. Barcelona is an amazing city, I miss it terribly. We moved to Madrid in January, which is equally amazing but there’s nothing like having the ocean near you! Thank you so much for following! Cheers and the best to you!
Ah que chevere! un abrazo pues! cuidate mucho 🙂 seguimos en contacto.
Hi! I hope you are doing great. I nominated you for the liebster award. Hope that’s ok. Participation is optional!!! 🙂 Have an awesome weekend!
Gracias! Hope you have had an awesome weekend too!
There can never be too many chefs in the world.
Hahaha! Thank you! I am happy that we are appreciated! 🙂
Hi Carla,
I am writing from Dallas. May I send you an email directly. I have a question to ask but not publicly. Thank you
Paul
Sure Paul, my email is on my main page.
Hi Carla, so glad I find your blog! Just a question: where do you get sundried tomatoes from in Barcelona. I keep on looking, but I haven’t been able to find them.
Hi Kiera, I am so sorry for the late reply…..I have been off posting. Have you found the sundried tomatoes? Yout can get them in oil in Italian specialty stores, or in the corte ingles gourmet. Also, you can get them dried (you need to boil them before using) in the corte ingles supermarkets. They are usually where the nuts are. Sorry again for the late reply!
Hi Carla!
My name is Natalie Sullivan and I work with the casting team for House Hunters International. The show is comprised of following people who are moving from one country to another. One of the ideas we decided to try and incorporate is looking for chefs who are moving to a new country for their work. It can be a temporary move (6 months or so) or a permanent move and they must speak fluent English (Excluding those who are moving to the USA or Canada). Also, there would be compensation involved for those featured on the show. Please let me know if this would be an idea you guys would be interested. If you have any questions you can call me at 646.862.2188. Thanks in advance!
Hi Nathalie, I am so very sorry for the late reply. I have moved to Switzerland, and am a full time mom to a very precocious toddler so have had very little time to check my blog…..even less to write anything! I am in the process of moving back to Barcelona, but not for a new job, per se. If I know of anyone who fits the bill I will definitely let you know if you are still looking. All the best!